Community feedback shapes future of Waterloo South

Keeping Pitt Street south closed to traffic at McEvoy Street and allowing more flexibility to achieve the best design outcomes for three tall buildings proposed in McEvoy Street, are key features of the latest plan for Waterloo South following community feedback.

Executive Director of Housing Supply and Infrastructure Monica Gibson at the Department of Planning and Environment said the updated proposal was also supported by new studies, and advice from an external consultant, which have been published.

“After hearing from the community, we undertook further technical studies and engaged an independent consultant to review our work, based on their feedback,” Ms Gibson said. “As a direct response to issues raised by the community, we have decided to extend Pitt Street but keep it closed to traffic at McEvoy Street, to make it safer and easier for local residents to walk and cycle.

“We’ve made it clear; our design guide will assist to achieve the best outcomes – it's not a box-ticking document that must be followed to the letter.

“That, together with greater flexibility around the footprint of the three proposed tall buildings in McEvoy Street, will give architects the ability to achieve well designed buildings which avoid overshadowing as much as possible.”

Plans for Waterloo South include potential for more than 3,000 new and improved homes:

• A minimum of 847 social housing homes;
• Around 225 affordable housing homes (7.5 per cent of all homes across the site);
• More than 1,900 private homes; and
• 2.5 hectares of open space.

The proposal is supported by updated traffic and urban design reports, a new crime prevention through environmental design report, and additional sunlight and shadow studies.

A review of the finalisation package, including the revised proposal, will be undertaken before a decision is made later this year.

The original proposal was placed on public exhibition 3 March to 29 April 2022, with 165 unique submissions, including 2,342 form submissions received. To view the proposal and submissions received, visit the NSW Planning Portal.